There’s no love lost between the West Ham and Tottenham boardrooms but Daniel Levy is about to save David Sullivan from himself.
The results of a popularity contest between David Sullivan and Daniel Levy as their clubs would make interesting reading.
Sullivan has at least overseen West Ham winning a major trophy.
On the flip side Levy has led Tottenham Hotspur into one of the finest stadiums in world football.
Sullivan and Levy taking transfer control
Both men are under serious pressure after a Premier League campaign to forget.
West Ham and Tottenham were widely tipped to challenge for the European places again this term.
It says everything about just how bad the Hammers and Spurs have been that they are 16th and 14th respectively with seven games to go – and unlikely to finish any higher than 13th.
Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten paid the price with their jobs.
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Speculation suggests Ange Postecoglou will soon suffer the same fate at Tottenham.
It stands to reason that both clubs are in need of major overhauls in the summer transfer window.
West Ham fans will be aware that Sullivan is now back in charge of transfers after electing not to replace Steidten.
The Hammers board declared they are a ‘happy ship’ again when confirming last month that Sullivan is now de facto director of football once more.
Sullivan’s return to the transfer fold at the London Stadium has some supporters worried.
Especially given how crucial it is West Ham get this summer’s rebuild right.
After all any more regression from their current position could have grave consequences.
Signing a new striker is a top priority for the Irons and Tottenham.
Spurs come to West Ham’s rescue as Levy saves Sullivan from striker blunder
The Hammers have signed a whopping 54 strikers during Sullivan’s 15-year tenure.
Not all have been flops of course but the vast majority have not worked out.
Now Spurs have come to West Ham’s rescue as Levy saves Sullivan from a striker blunder.
According to a recent report from Give Me Sport, West Ham have been speaking to Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin about joining on a free transfer in June.
Before Graham Potter took over at the London Stadium, Julen Lopetegui was linked with a move for Calvert-Lewin too.
So that suggests this is a deal being driven by Sullivan given Lopetegui and Steidten have left and interest remains.
West Ham have been linked with 28-year-old Calvert-Lewin for several years.
TEAMtalk claimed in January that the Hammers were trying to sign the former England forward. But when a deal could not be agreed they stated, West Ham would look to bring him in on a free transfer in the summer instead.
Most West Ham fans see the move as a mistake waiting to happen.
On his day Calvert-Lewin can be a top striker.
But those days are too few and far between due to his terrible injury record.
He has only played more than 22 games once in the last four seasons. And he has just 18 goals in that time.
Tottenham rescue Sullivan from Calvert-Lewin temptation
West Ham’s last permanent striker signing, Niclas Fullkrug, has spent the vast majority of the season out with two serious injuries.
But Calvert-Lewin’s availability on a free transfer will always be tempting for Sullivan. Especially given West Ham’s serious PSR issues this summer.
So West Ham fans will see it as a bullet dodged that Tottenham are now showing strong interest getting a deal done for the soon-to-be free agent.
Everton have already accepted that Calvert-Lewin’s departure is ‘practically inevitable’ according to Give Me Sport.
And the report claims it is Tottenham now emerging as his most likely destination.
With Postecoglou looking set to leave, Levy is pulling the strings on the cheap move.
And Tottenham are said to have already begun talks to entice the striker with an ambitious project and an important role in the squad for next season.
Levy may not be popular at Tottenham, but he certainly might be in east London after this.